It is quite commendable and shocking at the same time because none of us saw it coming, but it completely changed how we look at the Predator franchise now. There is no doubt that the new Predator: Badlands movie arrives as one of the most surprising entries in the long-running franchise, reshaping a world known for brutality into something far more emotional. We see how Dan Trachtenberg, who already revitalized the series with Prey, leaning into even further by creating a character-driven story about who is good and who is evil.
At the center of the story, we see Dek, played with remarkable nuance by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, a young Predator who can’t seem to fit into the harsh expectations of his own clan. Instead of proving himself through rough aggression, Dek is a being who is sensitive, insecure, and painfully aware that he doesn’t measure up in his father’s eyes. That vulnerability instantly shifts the film’s tonality, adding something that none of us expected before in a universe usually defined by violence.
Elle Fanning Brings Warmth and Humanity to a Story Set in the Harsh World of Predators
Audiences and fans see how Dek’s journey begins when he is exiled to Genna, a hostile world where countless members of his species have died trying to conquer its monstrous inhabitants. He is determined to reclaim his honor, and he sets out to hunt a legendary creature feared across Yautja lore. But the story quickly takes a sharp turn when he encounters Thia, an injured android portrayed by Elle Fanning, with unexpected tenderness. Stranded and separated from half her body, Thia strikes a partnership with Dek, as the story unfolds, how she will help him track the beast, and in return, he will help reunite her with her fellow synthetics.
And to be honest, their dynamic becomes the emotional core of the film by showing us genuine growth as both characters learn trust, value, and courage in a world that offers them none. Even the small monkey-like creature they adopt adds a huge amount of levity, giving the story a soft layer beneath its alien exterior.
A Bold Visual Feast Where Every Frame Thrills and Every Note Deepens the Story
We discover how Fanning’s performance plays a major role in shaping the film’s tone, bringing lightness to moments that could easily turn vague. Trachtenberg and screenwriter Patrick Aison take advantage of that balance, maintaining the franchise’s tension and danger while shifting the emphasis toward identity, friendship, and belonging. There are still scenes of combat and gore, which, after all, makes sense, as this is the Predator franchise we are talking about after all, but they are no longer the point. Instead, the film uses them to support a more layered coming-of-age tale set against the reality of a hostile galaxy.
The beauty and the craftsmanship behind Badlands elevate the experience for all of us even further. Ra Vincent’s production design and Jeff Cutter’s cinematography build a terrific and threatening world, while editors Stefan Grube and David Trachtenberg keep the momentum sharp and consistent. The score by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch enriches the film’s emotional beats, tying together its action and gentler moments.
